By Michael Bowman
Washington
(inan.info)-VOA News-
President Bush has repeated his contention that the battle against terrorists in Iraq and elsewhere is necessary, worthwhile and winnable. Mr. Bush was addressing U.S. servicemembers at an Air Force base in Alaska, during a brief stop en route to South Korea, beginning an

(inan.info)-By VOA News

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has warned China not to use legitimate security concerns as an excuse to crack down on dissidents.

At a joint news conference with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark in Auckland Saturday, Rice said China should showcase not just the Olympics, but an attitude of openness and tolerance.

Neither Rice nor the prime minister expressed any concerns about the safety of U.S. or New Zealand athletes.

Global intelligence analysts Stratfor and Intelcenter said Friday that a Uighur separatist group, the Turkestan Islamic Party, has claimed credit for several attacks, including the May 5 Shanghai bus bombing that killed two

(inan.info)-A new analysis by George N. Lewis and Theodore A. Postol in the May/June 2008 Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists reveals that the configuration of the proposed U.S. missile defense system in Europe will not adequately protect the continental United States or Europe against the postulated threat--an Iranian ballistic missile equipped with a nuclear warhead. Specific findings include:

* The system's centerpiece radar, slated for the Czech Republic, is substantially underpowered, rendering it ineffective unless upgraded or replaced.
* To compensate for this shortcoming, the controversial U.S. radar in Vardo, Norway will likely be a part of the system.
* Despite U.S. claims to the contrary, defense installations in the Czech Republic and

(inan.info)-VOA NEWS-By Judith Latham
Washington


This altered image was published by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' news website, adding a fourth successfully launched missile in place of the ground launcher at an undisclosed location in Iran, 09 Jul 2008

Iran’s testing of two separate rounds of long-range ballistic missiles earlier this month has aggravated tensions between Tehran and the United States, Israel, and even the Arab states in the region. Nonetheless, in a notable departure from long-standing policy, the Bush administration authorized the most significant American diplomatic contact with Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and sent a senior envoy – Under Secretary of State William Burns – to international talks in Geneva on Saturday.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Iran could face additional sanctions if it defies a two-week deadline to respond to an international nuclear incentives package
During her recent visit to former Soviet Georgia, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice vowed the United States would “defend its allies and protect its interests” against any threats in the Persian Gulf. The forceful warning came in response to Iran’s test launch the day before of nine missiles, including those with a range to strike Israel. But subsequently, the French news agency AFP published a photograph from Iranian state media that experts say had been digitally altered to show more and larger missiles than had actually been launched. The purpose of the exaggeration, some experts say, was to give the impression Iran’s missile program has more capability than it really does.

Amir Oren of the Israeli daily newspaper Ha’aretz says Iran’s missile program in and of itself does not currently pose an existential threat. But, speaking with host Judith Latham of VOA News Now’s International Press Club, Mr. Oren says that, coupled with what Iran will probably have within a couple of years – namely, nuclear warheads – it does pose the “gravest threat in Israel’s 60 years of existence,” and therefore the state of Israel is “preparing itself for this eventuality.” According to Mr. Oren, Israel wants to show the world it has very powerful weapons and can use them to retaliate against anyone trying to strike a blow against it. He thinks Iran’s most recent missile tests represent a “ploy to stall for time until the Bush administration leaves office” and there is a less determined occupant in the White House.

Iranian journalist Ali Reza Nourizadeh, who directs the Center for Arab and Iranian studies in London, agrees that Tehran has probably exaggerated the range and accuracy of its missiles. Nonetheless, they are still “very dangerous” because the hundreds of kilos of explosives they carry could be “turned to chemical and biological warheads.”

Nadia Bilbassy, senior news correspondent for the Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC) says, although people in the Arab world view the current situation primarily as one of “psychological warfare,” they do worry about the threat from Iran in the future. And the Gulf States, she says,,are “very worried” about Iran as an emerging regional superpower. According to Ms. Bilbassy, they are also concerned about the popularity of Iranians on the “Arab street.” And she adds, everyone is agreed that a military strike against Iran could be a “disaster for the region,” including the Gulf
On Saturday, Under Secretary of State Williams Burns joined a scheduled meeting in Geneva between European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili. Previously, Washington had insisted that Tehran stop its uranium enrichment programs as a precondition to face-to-face talks. At the meeting, Iran was given a two-week deadline to decide whether to accept an incentives package in exchange for suspending its nuclear program. According to VOA stringer in Geneva, Lisa Schlein, Mr. Solana expressed some hope that Iran would return to the talks with a positive response.

Meanwhile there are signs that Washington may be moving closer to opening a diplomatic post in Tehran. Former Assistant Secretary of State James Rubin suggested in a New York Times article last week that Secretary Rice is seeking President Bush’s approval to establish a U.S. interest section in Tehran. Amir Oren says in principle Israel would welcome any dialogue between Tehran and Washington. And Ali Reza Norizadeh suggests that having American diplomats in Iran would “help the United States understand Iranian politics better” and would promote closer contact with the Iranian people. Nadia Bilbassy calls it a “step in the right direction.” She says it does not mean “giving in to Iranian demands,” but it would put Washington “in a better position to

(inan.info)-By Kurt Achin
Seoul

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says North Korean steps this week related to its nuclear weapons are positive - but that more cooperation is needed in the future. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Seoul, where she is meeting with the South Korean President and key foreign policy ministers.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says North Korea needs to be more forthcoming about its nuclear past.

During Saturday's visit to the South Korean capital, she said documents Pyongyang has provided to the United States include some references to a suspected highly enriched uranium, or HEU, program. They also partially address North Korea's activities to help other countries develop nuclear technology. But Rice says what the North has provided is not enough.

"Concerning those two issues - HEU and proliferation - I have said before and I

(inan.info) VOA News-President George W. Bush shakes hands with Jalal Talabani, President of Iraq, during a meeting Wednesday, June 25, 2008, in the Oval Office at the White House. President Bush said, "It's been my honor to welcome a friend, President Talabani, back to the Oval Office. He is the President of a free Iraq. He is a man who's been on

(inan.info)-By Sonja Pace
London-VOA News-

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced he will send additional troops to Afghanistan to boost force levels in the fight against the Taliban and al-Qaida supporters. VOA's Sonja Pace has details from London.


Speaking at a joint news conference with visiting U.S. President George Bush, Prime Minister Brown said more British troops would be deployed soon.

"Today Britain will announce additional troops for Afghanistan bringing our numbers in Afghanistan to the highest level," said the British leader.

Britain currently has around 7,800 troops in Afghanistan, operating in the provinces of Helmand and Kandahar and in Kabul. British Defense Secretary Des Browne announced that an

(inan.info)-VOA News-By Robert Berger
Jerusalem

The United States' top diplomat has concluded a peace mission to Israel and the Palestinian territories. But she has little to show for it, as we hear from Robert Berger at the VOA bureau in Jerusalem.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wound up her visit by hosting a trilateral meeting with the Israeli defense minister and Palestinian prime minister. But after two days of talks in Jerusalem and the West Bank there was no sign of progress in peace talks sponsored by the United States.

The headline of the visit was Rice's unusually harsh criticism of Israeli settlement expansion in disputed East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Rice did not speak to reporters before she

(inan.info)-By Scott Stearns
White House

U.S. President George Bush says Iraq's military is making progress against Iranian-backed militia and al-Qaeda terrorists. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, Mr. Bush spoke to U.S. troops returning from the war.

President Bush reviewed paratroopers from the

(inan.info)-THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Fifteen months ago this week, I announced the surge. And this week, General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker gave Congress a detailed report on the results.

Since the surge began, American and Iraqi forces have made significant progress. While there's more to be done, sectarian violence, civilian deaths, and military deaths are down. Improvements in security have helped clear the